r shields.

Thus they fought till it was past noon, and never would stint, till at
last they lacked wind both, and stood panting and blowing a while.
Then they went to battle again, and thus they endured till even-song
time, and none that beheld them might know whether was like to win.
Then by assent of them both they granted either other to rest; and so
they sat down on two molehills, and unlaced their helms to take the
cool wind. Then Sir Fair-hands looked up at the window, and there he
saw the fair lady, Dame Liones. She made him such countenance that his
heart waxed light and jolly; and therewith he bade the Red Knight of
the Red Lawns make ready to do battle to the uttermost.

So they laced up their helms and fought freshly. By a cross stroke the
Red Knight of the Red Lawns smote Sir Fair-hands' sword from him, and
then gave him another buffet on the helm so that he fell grovelling to
the earth, and the Red Knight fell upon him to hold him down. Then
Linet cried to him aloud and said that the lady beheld and wept. When
Sir Fair-hands heard her say so he started up with great might, gat
upon his feet, and leaped to his sword. He gripped it in his hand,
doubled his pace unto the Red Knight, and there they fought a new
battle together.

Now Sir Fair-hands doubled his strokes and smote so thick that soon he
had the better of the Red Knight of the Red Lawns, and unlaced his helm
to slay him, whereupon he yielded himself to Fair-hands' mercy.

Sir Fair-hands bethought him upon the knights that he had made to be
hanged shamefully, and said, "I may not with my honour save thy life."

Then came there many earls and barons and noble knights, and prayed
Fair-hands to save his life and take him as prisoner. Then he released
him upon this covenant that he go within to the castle and yield
himself there to the lady, and if she would forgive him he might have
his life with making amends to the lady of all the trespass he had done
against her and her lands.

The Red Knight of the Red Lawns promised to do as Sir Fair-hands
commanded and so with all those earls and barons he made his homage and
fealty to him. Within a while he went unto the castle, where he made
peace with the Lady Liones, and departed unto the court of King Arthur.
There he told openly how he was overcome and by whom, and also he told
all the battles of Fair-hands from the beginning unto the ending.

"Mercy," said King Arthur and Sir Gawaine, "we mar